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I hardly know how to address members this last month of the 2014-2015 school year. As of the writing of this article, no one has a clue when the schools will get budget allocations or what draconian cuts may be made to those budgets. Each day I eagerly search the newspapers and watch local television newscasts for some glimmer of a remedy on the horizon about the state, city, and CPS budget crisis.
Although I must say honestly I am not surprised we are in this particular “pickle,” somehow, something is always going haywire in CPS. However, this seems particularly real and serious and more
“edge-of-the-cliff” than all the other CPS doomsday predictions. I think this is going to hit us all where it’s going to really hurt the most … in the wallet! While no one knows what is going to happen at the bargaining table between CTU and CPS, it’s going to be ugly. Needless to say I place the blame for this debacle squarely at the doorstep of CPS. Years and years of pension holidays, i.e., kicking the can down the road, is now coming to an end. Guess how and who is going to pay for this mess? Maybe you already know — we are!
Expect cuts that are going to squeeze school budgets to the breaking point. Do not suppose for one moment that employee salaries/benefits are escaping the scalpel. Our sincerest gratitude to the Illinois Supreme Court for sparing us the unjustified attempted diminishment of our pension benefits.
Less than a month after the court ruling, our mayor and state legislative leadership are conjuring up other avenues to avert the full and just payment of our pension monies. There are at my last count three “shell bills” in Springfield — tax our pensions (3%), give another pension holiday to CPS (just keep kicking that can), or dump us into TRS, the other State of Illinois’ teacher pension fund. By the way, TRS funding is far below the level of our own CTPF (Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund), which is already well below healthy standards.
We are expecting an extended legislative session, costing the state additional money it doesn’t have. I predict little in the way of real tax reform that equalizes the tax burden between the wealthiest citizens/corporations and the average taxpayer (you and me.) A lot has gone very wrong with those we elect and the quality of leadership we get in return, and I, for one, am sick of it! Big money, special interest groups, and corporate profits are driving the legislation coming out of Springfield and Washington D.C. Voter turnout gets lower and lower each year and then we’re all victimized. No solutions at the ready to change this downward spiral in clear view, but I will close with a famous quote. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chicago Principals & Administrators Association, AFSA Local 2, AFL-CIO
A MessAge froM the President
1
Meeting with the Ceo
2
retirees' Corner
4
CPAA in the news
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MYCPAA.COM / VOL. XVI . NO 6 / JUNE 2015
The LampA Message From The PresidentClarice Berry
The Lamp is published regularly by the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association and distributed to the entire membership. Recent editions are available online at
http://www.mycpaa.com. Comments and suggestions are welcome; please e-mail Associate Editor Kent Lau at [email protected]. The Chicago Principals & Administrators
Association AFSA Local 2, AFL-CIO, 20 N. Wacker Dr., Suite 1545, Chicago, IL 60606, Phone: 312-263-7767, Fax: 312-263-2012, www.mycpaa.org
Clarice Berry
Editor
Kent Lau
Associate Editor
Kimberly Tsui Fong
Design/Production
AFFILIATIONS:
American Federation of
School Administrators
(AFSA)
American Federation of Labor-
Congress of Industrial Organizations
(AFL-CIO)
Illinois American Federation of Labor-
Congress of Industrial Organizations
(IL AFL-CIO)
Chicago Federation of Labor-
Industrial Union Council
(CFL-IUC)
The CPAA Executive Board met with representatives from Interim CEO Jesse Ruiz’s office on Monday, April 27, 2015. The following issues were discussed:
Meeting with the CEOReport—April
Issue: Aramark & SodexoMAGIC Contract IssuesDespite the public release of an “independent” audit of CPS schools’ APPA cleanliness levels, principals continue to report unsatisfactory performance by privatized custodial contractors. Information directly from principals detailed auditors conducting little more than 10 minutes of inspection time at schools and then reporting an APPA Level II rating for the building. We have no confidence in the released audit and request an investigation of the reported school APPA levels contained in that audit. Let us reiterate the critical issues and problems with the privatized custodial contracts and service delivery provided our schools:
• Staffing levels are insufficient to provide even basic cleaning standards for CPS schools.
• Principals report cleaning supplies/equipment are substandard and do not thoroughly clean surfaces.
• Inadequate staff training, turnover, and absenteeism are major issues for principals that create daily health and safety problems in our schools.
• Principal instructional leadership time is eroded due to unnecessary supervision and direction of Aramark/SodexoMAGIC staff concerning routine custodial responsibilities.
• Supervisory support (FMs) from Aramark/SodexoMAGIC is uneven and often unavailable to principals to meet school, staff, and student needs.
• The quality of the educational environment we are now providing for CPS students is without a doubt an embarrassment to this great city and its elected/appointed leadership!
Response: CPS acknowledges awareness of the issues surrounding the custodial contract. However, no solution was offered or promise of a speedy remedy to our complaints. CPAA was asked if we saw a possible solution to the lack of the contract meeting the results promised. As before, we are demanding that CPS void the contract, return engineers to schools, and restore principal authority to run their respective schools.
Issue: CPS FY16 Budget ItemWe are very aware of the serious budget challenges facing CPS and the City of Chicago. However, equitable compensation for principals and assistant principals must be discussed and reviewed. The importance of good leadership at the local school level is well documented and acknowledged universally. We are requesting the inclusion of a reasonable salary increase for our school administrators in the CPS FY16 budget.
Response: CPS is waiting for action in Springfield before either issuing school budgets or discussing pay increases for CPS employees.
Outstanding Agenda Items – March CEO Meeting
SQRP Metric Removal “My Voice My School” Due to the nonattendance of John Barker (accountability chief), this item will move to the next meeting agenda.
New Principal Eligibility ProcessOn June 9, 2015, Rosemary Herpel (Principal Talent) will convene an organizational meeting to address a permanent eligibility process. CPAA will partner with other stakeholders in shaping this new policy.
The Lamp —June 2015 3
The CPAA Governing Board met on Monday, May 4, 2015.
Executive Board Members PresentClarice Berry, Ana Espinoza, Ken Hunter, Sonia Lopez, Jerry Travalos
Auxiliary Officers PresentDana Butler, Elizabeth Cittadine, July Cyrwus, Katherine Gallagher, Senalda Grady, Katherine Konopasek, Maureen Laraviere, Troy Laraviere, Patrick Macmahon, Edwin Mason, Serena Peterson, Linda Williams
CPAA Staff PresentWilliam Quinlan (General Counsel)
Call to OrderAfter a presentation of a principals' survey by representatives from the Chicago Public Education Fund, the meeting was called to order by President Clarice Berry at 6:16 PM.
Approval of Minutes From Previous MeetingMinutes from the previous meeting were not available.
Treasurer's ReportThe April 30 financial report was presented by Jerry Travalos. A motion made by Serena Peterson and seconded by Jerry Travalos to accept Treasurer’s Report. The motion was passed by all.
Membership ReportThe Membership Report was reviewed by members. A motion made by Katherine Konopasek and seconded by Senalda Grady to accept Membership Report. The motion was passed by all.
Report from the PresidentPresident Clarice Berry reported the following:• AP survey was sent to all APs by Sonia Lopez on May 4, 2015,
with 94 responses within an hour. • The Chicago Public Education Fund was invited to provide an
overview of “School Leadership in Chicago: A Baseline Report” to the CPAA Governing Board.
• An update on granted eligibility status of contract principals was provided. This summarized a meeting held on April 27, 2015, with Interim CPS CEO Jesse Ruiz. Also in attendance at this meeting were Sherry Ulery, Tracy Martin, and Rosemary Herpel.
• The May General Membership Meeting on May 18, 2015, will be held at Galleria Marchetti, with Interim CEO Ruiz as the special guest speaker.
• CPAA has had a charter with the American Federation of
School Administrators (AFSA) since 1977. The 13th AFSA Triennial Convention will be held at the Lowe’s Hotel in New Orleans from July 23-26, 2015. Clarice Berry, the legislative chair, is looking for eight volunteers to attend as delegates representing CPAA.
• Going forward, per Chicago Board of Education Member Mahalia Hines, CPAA will be included in any and all actions made by CPS.
Motions from Auxiliaries
Auxiliary VII Katherine Gallagher moved that CPAA create an unpaid public relations position. The motion was seconded by Kenneth Hunter and passed unanimously.
Auxiliary X Patrick Macmahon moved that CPAA support pension legislation that increases fiscal soundness for the fund (in agreement with CTPF). The motion was seconded by Ana Espinoza and passed unanimously.
Patrick Macmahon moved that the Chicago Board of Education have two sitting principals (one from high schools, one from elementary schools, as selected by CPAA) incorporated into the Board’s negotiating team as a new contract with CTU is negotiated. The motion was seconded by Ana Espinoza and passed unanimously.
Patrick Macmahon also moved that CPS require all proposed school leadership development go through CPAA for their approval/consent and that any principal/AP professional development that is proposed is done through an RFP. The motion was seconded by Ana Espinoza and passed unanimously.
Auxiliary XVI Linda Williams moved that the CPAA president formally request the resignation of any officer of the Executive Board who misses three consecutive Governing Board Meetings. The motion was seconded by July Cyrwus and passed unanimously.
Linda Williams also moved that the CPAA president write a letter to Chicago newspapers to clarify the 9% pension payment from CPS. The motion was seconded by Kathy Konopasek and passed unanimously.
AdjournmentThe meeting was adjourned at 7:50 PM.
May Governing Board MinutesJuly Cyrwus
Retirees' CornerArt Fumarolo & John ReillySTAY ING CONNECTED AND ADDRESS ING THE CONCERNS SHAPING YOUR FUTURE
The latest meeting of Auxiliary XVI, the Retired and Resigned members auxiliary, was held on June 9, 2015. Twenty-three members were present. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the auxiliary will be at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, September 15, 2015. It will be held in room 909 of the Garland Building, 111 N. Wabash Avenue. The Retired Teachers Association of Chicago (RTAC) will be our host. The meeting began with a report by Pension Board Trustees Walter Pilditch and Bob Bures. Their comments were about ongoing concerns and action in Springfield, especially as related to the opposing viewpoints of budget and nonbudget items. It was mentioned that legislation was introduced that would allow municipal governments to declare bankruptcy but no further action was taken. On June 8, 2015, on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, former Governor Edgar urged the legislative leaders and Governor Rauner to cut the rhetoric and find a solution to our state’s financial problems. Others offered opinions regarding the reestablishment of a School Finance Authority or the possibility of another “pension holiday.” Pilditch and Bures encouraged all to continue to contact and educate their legislators about pension-related bills.
Dave Peterson, president of RTAC, reported that the RTAC lobbyist has indicated that HB3695 (return of a tax levy specifically for the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund) is still alive. However, since the legislature is now in an extended session, it needs a 3/5 vote for passage. We’re waiting for Senate President Cullerton to allow the vote to be called. If the Senate is allowed to vote on it, passage seems quite possible since the bill passed out of the House by a vote of 102-9, and it was passed and recommended unanimously by the Senate Executive Committee (of which Cullerton is a member). Contact your state senator and Senator Cullerton, especially if you haven’t done so already, to urge them to see to it that HB3695 is called for a vote during the current session.
There was discussion at the Governing Board and Auxiliary meetings relative to withdrawing from AFSA, but the AFSA bylaws do not allow for withdrawing (as ruled in a court case in which AFSA won against one of its locals that tried to discontinue their membership). The auxiliary discussion reviewed some of the ways in which, in the past, AFSA provided much-needed services to CPAA and was very instrumental in keeping our organization afloat. CPAA is Local 2 of AFSA, and CPAA’s then president was one of the members of the AFSA Organizing Committee.
The CPAA’s 2016 Annual Education Conference is tentatively scheduled for February 25, 2016, at the Fairmont Hotel. One of the considerations will be the CPS budget and its financial support, as well as how the budget addresses administrators’ compensation.
The Governing Board approved Auxiliary XVI’s motions that “we recommend that the CPAA president write a letter to any and all general officers who have or will be absent for three consecutive Governing Board meetings, requesting their resignation from their elected CPAA office,” and “that the president write a letter to the Sun-Times and all the various publications clarifying the 9% pension payment.”
The proposed 2015–16 CPAA budget was distributed. Ninety percent of CPAA income is derived from dues.
One of the ways in which CPAA is planning to balance next year’s budget is to schedule only one General Membership Meeting.
Auxiliary X presented a motion to the Governing Board that was referred to the new Constitution Committee: That the constitution be changed regarding the election of the president so that any seated principal or principal who had retired within the past one or two years be eligible to run for and be elected to the office of president.
The auxiliary then discussed various ideas about ways in which the membership in every category, especially active members, could be increased. One of the ideas presented that received interest was the suggestion that the association conduct brainstorming sessions to include all members to air concerns and gather ideas as to what members would like to see the CPAA do or provide to better serve them and increase the desire for more/all eligible members to join the association. It was also suggested that a similar session be held by invitation to all eligible nonmembers to ascertain their ideas as to how the CPAA would be attractive to them.
A motion was made, seconded, and approved by the auxiliary, that the constitution be changed so as to include a retired/resigned member as a vice president on the CPAA Executive Board to be elected by the retired/resigned members in a procedure similar to the election of other vice presidents.
RTAC held its 89th Annual Spring Luncheon on May 22, 2015,
The Lamp —June 2015 5
at the Hilton Chicago. The main guest speaker was Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, who addressed “SB1 Dead/Battles Ahead.” His remarks were informative, though some did not sit well with the audience who obviously are finding it difficult to face the realities of state financing and the meeting of pension obligations. Martire began by commenting that Illinois may be the only state in the United States to have a Supreme Court telling the legislature what the clear language of the state constitution means — the clear and unambiguous language of
“cannot be diminished or impaired.” Martire pointed out that, for many years, the cost of delivering Illinois state services has outstripped the cost of maintaining those services. Illinois has not collected the full amount of needed taxes in years. In the past, Illinois has borrowed against its pensions in order to pay for the services it provided. Borrowing to spend is irresponsible — the borrowed funds must be paid back. In 1995, before pension holidays and other tactics, the pensions were already underfunded to the tune of $17 million. And then a “funding ramp” to meet the 90% funded goal was passed, but the legislature didn’t pay into it. As the ramp went up, funding went down, and no taxing source was designated to meet the growing ramp.
Martire proposed three items to be addressed to improve the state’s budgeting situation:
1. Increase taxes. Illinois has one of the narrowest tax bases in the country. Expand the sales tax to include consumer services such as pet grooming, haircuts, country club memberships, health clubs and lawn care. Currently, our state sales taxes rate of 5% is below the
national average and almost exclusively on goods, yet our economy is based 72% on services and 17% on goods. Such a move would bring about $300 million to Chicago.
2. Bump up the income tax rate. Illinois has one of the lowest state income tax rates.
3. Tax retirement income. (This is the point to which there was a vocal reaction by some.) Illinois is one of three states that do not tax public or private retirement income. The recommendation is that a tax change allows for the taxing of all retirement income from private and public sources. A sliding tax scale should be used but not apply to those whose annual retirement income is less than $50,000.
It was announced that the seminars about health insurance for next year will be conducted by the Pension Fund on October 6 and 8, 2015.
We were sorry to have submitted our May column before we were aware of the passing of Alvin Lubov, former principal of Douglass Middle School, who passed away on April 30, 2015. In the 1970s–80s, Lubov served as a vice president of the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association. He is survived by Rudy Lubov, who is also a retired CPS principal. We also were sorry to see the obituary of the passing of Beverly Lowe Daniels, retired principal of Mann Elementary, on May 17.
Send your news about retired members or the activities of retired members' groups to Art Fumarolo at [email protected] or call him at 847-289-7847.
The Chicago Public Education Fund Visits CPAA Governing BoardOn May 4, 2015, Matthew Lyons and Destiny Ortega from The Chicago Public Education Fund (The Fund) were invited to present to the CPAA Governing Board, findings from a recent principal suvery — School Leadership in Chicago: A Baseline Report. As a result of the survey, The Fund is forming the 2015-2016 Educator Advisory Committee for The Public Education Fund. CPAA has submitted nominees to serve on this committee. We look forward to providing updates on the work of this group.
On Monday, May 18, 2015, the CPAA May General Membership Meeting was held at Galleria Marchetti. Over 50 administrators were present to greet new CPS Interim CEO Jesse Ruiz. Ruiz provided brief remarks and then graciously opened the floor for questions from the audience. Ruiz answered the questions thoughtfully and provided assurances that CPS would continue to work closely with CPAA to ensure that the voices of administrators are heard. We would like to thank Ruiz for taking time from his very busy schedule to address our membership and look forward to continued collaboration with his office.
May General membership Meeting Guest: CPS Interim CEO Jesse Ruiz
The Lamp —June 2015 7
CPAA President Clarice Berry Appears on WTTW's Chicago TonightThis was a busy week for CPS! Clarice Berry appeared on WTTW's Chicago Tonight program on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, and addressed the Board of Education shake up and issues that school administrators continue to have with CPS' Aramark custodial contract. She also made suggestions on how CPS might solve the problems moving forward. An online video of the segment can be found on the CPAA website by clicking on "In the News" in the top menu bar.
CPAA in the News
The following appeared on the Catalyst Chicago website on June 4, 2015.
...Dirty schools … If you’ve talked with any CPS principal or teacher in recent months, chances are you’ve heard complaints about how schools have gotten dirtier since the district privatized janitorial services. This week Clarice Berry of the Chicago Principals & Administrators Association told WTTW’s Chicago Tonight that she thinks interim CEO Jesse Ruiz should fire Chief Administrative Officer Tim Cawley over the controversial contract. (The same contract that’s already cost the district millions of additional dollars in cost overruns due to someone in central office miscalculating the number of schools that needed to be cleaned.)
“He shouldn’t step down,” Berry told WTTW. “He should be fired. He shouldn’t be left off the hook.”
In an interview with Catalyst earlier this week, she said the Aramark deal is more troublesome than the $20-million, no-bid contract with SUPES Academy for principal training that’s sparked an FBI corruption probe and forced CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett to resign last week. “Everybody is up and arms about this $20 million contract,” Berry says. “But what head is going to roll over this one?”
Meanwhile, the Chicago Reader’s Ben Joravsky reports that teachers at Oriole Elementary filed -- and just this week lost -- a union grievance in to compel CPS to hire more janitors. The grievance said teachers were "performing the daily duties of a custodian," including "sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms and disinfecting play areas,” according to the story. Joravsky says a hearing officer ruled against the teachers “on the grounds that ‘there was no evidence’ that Aramark or the board ‘were contacted and made aware of the issues at Oriole’ before the grievance was filed. Had they been aware, they'd have cleaned it up pronto, the ruling concludes.”
As seen on...
As seen on TV...
ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATORS' ACADEMY
Visit MyCpaa.com to get more information on and register for
Illinois Administrators' Academy courses, and to find event
information.
• June 16, 2015 — Shift Toward a Balanced Assessment for Improving PARCC Readiness
• June 23, 2015 — Culture Counts: Constructive Leadership That Promotes Student
Success (Culture, Climate and You)
• July 23, 2015— Become an iAdministrator to Strengthen Your Leadership and
Management
Member NewsCondolences — Paul Goldstein, former assistant principal at Goudy Elementary, passed away on March 27, 2015.
Albert Vazquez, husband of Martha Miranda, former principal at Salazar Elementary, passed away in May.
New Members — Marcus Alexander, Principal, Beethoven Elementary; Derrick Kimbrough, A.P., Lorca Elementary; Susan Lofton, Principal, Senn High School; Taranika Sanders, Resident Principal, South Loop Elementary; Robert Staszczak, A.P., Cleveland Elementary.
Board Action — The following principal contracts were approved at the May 2015 Chicago Board of Education Meeting: Mark Armendariz, Lincoln Elementary; Carlos Azcoitia, Greeley Elementary; Bud Bryant, Cullen Elementary; Salvatore Cannella, Swift Elementary; Christie Jones, Mather High School; Kate Kane, Peterson Elementary; Katherine Konopasek, Stevenson Elementary; Renee Mackin, Linne Elementary; Barbara Onofrio, Stone Elementary; Serena Peterson, Ebinger Elementary; Jorge Ruiz, Whitney Elementary; Isamar Vargas Colon, Saucedo Elementary; Willard Willette, Lawndale Elementary.
Chicago Board of Education Monthly MeetingWednesday, June 24, 2015
Board Chambers125 S. Clark Street
For "Public Participation" registration information, please visit http://www.cpsboe.org/meetings
Public Participation 10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Upcoming Meeting
